Mercedes technical director James Allison has revealed how Kimi Antonelli’s bold use of his steering wheel tools helped him become Formula 1’s youngest world champion. The Italian driver secured the 2026 title at the Mexican Grand Prix at the age of 20 during only his second season in the sport, claiming nine grand prix victories along the way.
Mastering Steering Wheel Settings
Speaking on the NU Silver Arrows Radio Show, as reported by Motorsport.com, Allison stated that Antonelli showed exceptional agility in managing brake migration—which alters how braking force is split between the front and rear tyres during a corner—and the differential.
“He is very, very adventurous: if he has a car that’s understeering in a way that he doesn’t like, he will free it up with the diff and the brake migration to allow it to turn even if it doesn’t particularly want to. And the contrary, when it feels too lively, he will close it down so that it is less so,” Allison explained to Motorsport.com.
Allison noted that while all drivers adjust these parameters, Antonelli was willing to push them to quite extreme settings independently, trusting his car control to keep the vehicle pointed toward the apex. This approach generated a significant portion of his pace throughout the season, allowing him to extract lap time efficiently from the moment he applied the brakes up to the apex.
Tyre Management and Team Trust
That exceptional corner-entry speed also enabled the young champion to preserve his tyres effectively over long stints. Allison highlighted that after 20 laps when rivals headed to the pits, Antonelli’s lap times remained remarkably consistent without damaging his rear tyres due to his diligent entry work.
Additionally, Allison disclosed the strong working relationship and trust between Antonelli and his race engineer, Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington. According to Allison, the driver frequently tells his engineer that he trusts his judgment and will adapt to whatever setup is provided, making it one of Bonnington’s most enjoyable seasons in the sport.
